Snake eye

Photographer’s description: “I looked at a bush and thought that someone had planted a rubber snake on it as a joke. I realized two garter snakes were sunning themselves. Instead of slithering away, they let me approach to get some close-up shots. Taken with Sony a99 with Tamron 90mm macro lens.”

Expert says: “The use of the macro lens for this photo is wonderful — focusing on a small plane in the frame makes the snake’s head stand out. How the rest of the snake’s body trails out of focus and then out of the frame is really lovely, especially with those lines on its back. The photographer did a great job of using the rule of thirds, which makes my eyes keep going around the frame and circling back to the snake’s head.”